Team Zimbabwe

On the way back to Bulawayo today Team Zimbabwe ran into some typical African situations.  At about the halfway mark, 80km from each town [Gweru & Bulawayo], our bakkie[ute] broke down.

After inspecting the damage it was determined that there was no way the problem could be repaired on the road [siezed bearings in RH front wheel assembly], and a tow truck was organised from Bulawayo.  The Team disembarked and began the long wait for about 3 hours before a tow truck arrived.

This was by far the end of the story. Firstly the winch cable motor on the tow truck burned out as it was loading our vehicle.  We were able to drive it up despite the damage to the wheel assembly.  We all climbed aboard the bakkie and began out journey back to Bulawayo.  At about 40km out, we came across a police roadblock, who made us pull over and climb out as it is illegal to carry passengers in a vehicle on the back of a tow truck [we did provide much amusement for passing motorists!].

Somehow our tow truck driver talked his way out of the situation [I think money changed hands, but the police dodn't get any US dollars out of us, thanks to the protection of the driver].  After a while off the vehicle the command came to get back in and we set off for Bulawayo fearing the next police roadblock.  About 5km from home we hit another and were taken off the road once again.  This time the senior officer only wanted to do some public relations with us and tell us that “there is no violence or anything like that in Zimabwe, it is the media creating a false impression”.  None of us dared argue the point, and smiled like cheshire cats.  Eventually we gave him and his sidekick some Koala bears to take home and all was good.

The final few km’s home were uneventful and we were extremely happy to arrive home.  I spent the journey from the pick up point in the drivers seat of the bakkie on top of the tow truck, a truly surreal experience, escpecially as it was doing a maximum of 55km per hour, and an average of 40km per hour!  It was our most ‘African’ experience of the whole trip.

Police roadblocks are really just a means whereby poorly paid police get to extract bribes in the form of money or produce.  As such, we have passed through most without problems, thanks to Andrew’s charm.